Comments on: I read this recently about spanking

By: Melinda J

Melinda J — Mon, 11 Nov 2002 07:43:30 +0000

My parents were the sort who had tight control of their family mostly because they had no idea about the actual needs that motivate child behavior. We never talked back. We never disobeyed. We were model children. But I was beaten within an inch of my life for things like not being able to see the one object out of place on my dresser, or for not being able to finish cleaning the kitchen in the assigned time frame when I was 9 and still had to stand on a stool to reach the sink. But boy did people admire our family! Even though they all wept through listening to my father repeatedly spank (I mean a real, 10-plus whack, bare-bottom spanking)my eight-month-old brother for making noise and getting restless at church. This is what I mean when I say they didn’t quite GRASP the notion of stages of child development. My father trotted out all the much-abused scriptures touting his dominace over the family, and our need to toe his line, but ultimately, I haven’t spoken to him in over ten years, because it has taken this long to purge my psyche of the cruelty of his approach.
I’d like to also add that my older sister is thirty-three years old and cannot keep a job, an apartment, or a checking account. She is unable to control her life because her childhood was all about controlling her to the point where she learned that control is external to herself.
I now have a beautiful, two-year-old baby, and I look at her and marvel at her little bids for independence and self-determination. That is not to say that I appreciate it fully when we are having a crabby, difficult day, but since I have the knowledge that she HAS TO challenge me in order to grow up, then I have knowledge to fall back on, instead of impulsive overreaction. As an educator once told me, “From the moment they are born, their main job is to get away from you!” Now, that sounds harsh (and sad!), but really, that’s what our job is: to enable them to grow up and leave home.
I look at my daughter and can’t imagine how a parent can ever forgive themselves for striking their child.

By: VASpider's Web

VASpider's Web — Wed, 25 Sep 2002 01:50:01 +0000

To spank, or not to spank…

I’m sure I’ll have more to say about this later, but I’m about to go watch Monsters, Inc. with Fox.

By: Stephanie_S

Stephanie_S — Mon, 23 Sep 2002 16:51:29 +0000

Thanks Apathetic! And Stephanie, your assumption that everyone is Christian, and/or wants to raise their children to be Christian, is offensive to say the least.

By: Apathetic Crusader

Apathetic Crusader — Mon, 23 Sep 2002 11:29:18 +0000

Let’s get down and dirty with the claims of what the Bible has to say here, shall we?

We can rule our your Ephesians quote, it doesn’t have anything other than “Kids, do what your parents say”. It has nothing on corporal punishment.

So we’re left with Proverbs. Lots and lots of Proverbs. As you probably know, the book of Proverbs is the word of King Solomon. Yeah, wise King Solomon. Oh, but wait… doesn’t Solomon get into idol worshipping (and following Moloch, who in Biblical terms is portrayed as being one of the sorts that prefers sacrificed children)?

But I’m sure his kids turn out right, right? Uhh, no, that would be wrong. The first and foremost amongst them turned out to be a cruel little brat (I think the most notable quote is how, when asked to lighten the labors the people were faced with, Reheboam (that’s Solomon’s kid), acting on the advice of his brothers, says, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions” - Chronicles 10:10-10:11. IE, he insults the size of his father’s penis size, and then goes on to demonstrate his cruelty).

The Bible’s all about teaching by example, right? Seems to me this example says that if you raise your kids as Solomon did, expect them to be sniveling little bastards.

But you knew that, because you actually read and understood the Bible, as opposed to hitting us all up with pithy quotes, right?

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 22 Sep 2002 21:07:28 +0000

What Does the Bible Say About Spanking Children?
There is only one way and that is GODS way!!

Proverbs 13:24(KJV): “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

Proverbs 13:24(AMP): “He who spares his rod (of discipline) hates his son, but he who loves him diligently disciplines and punishes him early.”

Proverbs 19:18(AMP): “Discipline your son while there is hope, but do not (indulge your angry resentments by undue chastisements and) set yourself to his ruin.”

Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:15: “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the “rod of discipline” will drive it far from him.”

Proverbs 23:13-14: “Withold not discipline from the child, for if you strike and punish him with the (reed-like) rod, he will not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.”

Proverbs 29:15 &17(AMP):

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but “a child left undisciplined brings his mother to shame.”
17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your heart.

Ephesians 6:1-4:

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

This doesn’t mean to beat your child when you are angry. Or to hurt them other places then the buttocks. But rather to do as GOD has said and talk to them about what is right and when they choose not to do what is right then spank them. Not when your sick of them but when your teaching them what is right.